Bobbin holder



MaylO, 1949. .E. R. BILOUNT 2,469,590

BOBBIN HOLDER Filed June 20, 1945 i I I INVENTOR I 06m? fi. Emu/v7 ,amds

ATTORNEYS Patented May 10, 1949.

BOBBIN HOLDER Edgar R. Blount, Rome, Ga., assignor, by mesne assignments. to Celanese Corporation of America, a corporation of Delaware Application June 20, 1945, Serial No. 600,591

This invention relates to bobbin holders, partlcularly for holding cylindrical spin bobbins in the wet spinning of viscose rayon, and has for its object the provision of an improved bobbin holder.

In the heretofore customarytype of holder for spin bobbins, the compression of soft rubber rings-is depended upon for securing the bobbin to the holder. This holder is generally of cylindrical shape and has a plurality of integral radially extending longitudinal ribs circumferentiallyspaced around its periphery. The ribS have correspondingly positioned recesses at their forward and rear ends to accommodate compressible soft rubber rings, and a split ring of hard rubber is positioned over and in contact with each of the compressible rings. When a bobbin is forced on this holder, the compressible rings permit the split rings to contract, and the bobbin is held on the holder by the compressive force of the soft rubber rings. Due to the frictional drag imposed, the compression must be fairly light in order to allow the bobbin to be placed on and removed from the holder, and to prevent excessive wear on both the bobbin and the gripping elements of the holder.

The improved holder of the invention permits easy'mounting thereon and removal therefrom of a cylindrical spin bobbin, and provides a superior grip on the bobbin. The holder of the invention has a head adapted to be secured to a rotatable shaft and an elongated body member extending axially therefrom. The body member has a plurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinal peripheral slots in each of which is resiliently held a radially extending arm capable of a slight longitudinal rocking movement in its slot. Normally, the forward ends of these arms (that is, the ends farthestfremoved from the head are retracted or depressed so that the effective diameter of the forward end of the holder is not greater, and preferably just slightly less, than the internal diameter of the cylindrical bobbin. As the bobbin is placed on the holder it causes the arms to rock and there'- by protracts their forward ends to a position firmly gripping the bobbin. These and other novel features of the bobbin holder of the invention will be best understood from the following description taken in conjunction withthe accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is an elevation of the forward end of the holder of the invention with a bobbin thereon, and

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the holder and bobbin. i V

8 Claims. (Cl. 242-462) The holder of the invention has an enlarged head 5 in the nature of ,a hub for securing the holder to a rotatable shaft or spindle 6. Thus, the head 5 has a central opening into which the shaft 6 is inserted, and one or more set-screws l which securely fasten the holder to the shaft. Extending longitudinally or axially from the head, and preferably integral therewith, is the generally cylindrical and elongated body member 8 of the holder. As illustrated in the drawing, the body member 8 has a spider-like crosssectional configuration, although it may be var-g iously shaped and may be hollow to lighten its weight. The head and body member may be made of hard rubber or other suitable material capable of resisting the corrosive conditions encountered in wet spinning of viscose rayon. The head 5 carriesv a circular base 9 adjacent the member 8 which serves as a stop for the bobbin when it is placed. on the holder. The base 9 is of greater diameter than the bobbin, and has on its inner or forward face an inlaid resilient cushion IU of semi-soft rubber or the like to absorb shock and wear when the end of the bobbin contacts the base in placing the bobbin on the holder.

The body member 8 has a plurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinal grooves or slots l I. In a spider-like body member, theslots II are located in the radiating spokes or arms thereof, as illustrated in the drawing. In the holder illustrated in the drawing there are four such slots equally spaced about the periphery of the member 8, but there may be more if desired, and three such equally spaced slots are adequate for the purposes of the invention. A longitudinally rockable arm or rib 12 of approximately the same length as the body member is positioned in each slot,'and is of such width that it extends radially for a considerable distance beyond the generally cylindrical periphery of the member 8. As illustrated in the drawing, each arm has a semi-circular extension I: on its inside edge fitting in a corresponding semi-circular depression M in its slot. The extension I3 is somewhat nearer the rear end of the member 8 than the forward end, and serves as a fulcrum about which the arm rocks. The outside edges of the arms l2 have recesses l5 opposite the extensions l3, and a resilient band It of soft rubber or the like is positioned in these recesses andv assists in holding the arms in their respective slots.

The arms l2 have correspondingly positioned radial recesses ll in their outer peripheral edges approximate the forward (outer) ends of the 3 arms, and similar recesses l8 approximate the rear (inner) ends of the arms. Resilient and compressible bands l9 and-20 of rubber orthe like are positioned-in the bottoms of the recesses l1 and I8, respectively, surrounding the arms, and tend to rock the ends of the arms to their respective retracted positions. Split rings 2| and 22 of hard rubber or the like are positioned in the recesses i1 and I8, respectively, over and in contact with the resilient bands i9 and 20, respectively. The distance from the fulcrum I3 to the forward ends of the arms I2 is greater than the distance from the fulcrum to the rear ends of the arms-and since the bands l9 and 20 are of the same size and elasticity the arms are normally biased with their forward. ends retracted and their rear ends protracted. The same result would be attained with the fulcrum approximate the middle of the arms, with the band I9 elastically stronger than the band 20.

When a spin bobbin 23 (such as the customary perforated cylindrical metal bobbin) is placed on the holder of the invention, it is free to slide until its edge contacts the inner or rearward split ring 22. The recesses I] and i8 are of such depth that the peripheral edges of the split rings 2| and 22 extend a short distance beyond the outer edges of the arms i2, as illustrated in the drawing. Moreover, the circumferential edges of the split rings are beveled to facilitate contraction of the rings (more especially the rearward ring =22) by the advancing circular rim or edge of the bobbin. In the construction illustrated in the drawing, the bobbin slides substantially freely, with little or no drag from the forward split ring 2!, for about nine-tenths of its total movement overthe holder, and then contacts the beveled edge of the split ring 22. As the bobbin continues to advance, it contracts the split ring 22 and forces the rear ends of the arms H2 inwardly to their retracted positions, and thereby the forward ends of the arms are rocked outwardly, by the lever action, to ,their protracted positions. As the forward ends of the arms i2 are protracted the split ring 2i expands into gripping position with the interior of the bobbin. The outward movement of the forward ends of the arms i2 compresses the resilient band l9 to provide the compressive force for firmly gripping the bobbin on the forward end of the holder. Similarly, when the bobbin passes over the split ring 22, the resilient band 26 is compressed to provide the compressive force for firmly gripping the bobbin on the rear end of the holder. The drag of the :bobbin over the gripping elements of the holder is imposed for only about one-tenth of the total movement of the bobbin.

The forward ends of the arms 12 are automatically depressed (retracted), by the resilient band !9, as soon as contact of the bobbin with the rear split ring 22 is released, thus leaving the bobbin free of any gripping action by the holder. Moreover, the forward ends of the arms remain depressed until a bobbin is again placed on the holder and contacts and passesover the rear split ring 22. Without the bobbin in place, the forward ends of the arms l2 will remain depressed even at-high rotational speed, thus facilitating sliding of a bobbin on the holder while rotating at such high speed. A very slight movement of the bobbin is sufiicient to exert adequate pressure against the inside of the bobbin (at each end thereof) to prevent slippage, even with lacquered bobbins rotating at high speeds. By the same slight movement of the bobbin in the opposite. direction, the pressure is released, and the bobbin is then readily removed from the holder. While the pressure required for holding the bobbin on the holder is preferably provided by compression of soft rubber bands (i. e. l9 and 20), other resilient material or agents may be employed, such as metallic springs, suitable for use under the corrosive conditions normally encountered in wet spinning.

The arms l2 may advantageously be made of hard rubber and are readily replaced in case they become chipped or broken without discarding the entire holder. The resilient cushion I0 is also replaceable. The cushion effectively prevents wear and shock to the bobbin when, in sliding it on the holder, its movement is arrested by coming up against the base. The semi-circular extensions 13 prevent lengthwise movement of the arms l2 in their slots, in addition to providing an admirable form of fulcrum for the lever action of the arms. Due to this lever action, a relatively high degree of compression is set up in the resilient rings 59 and '20 by only a very slight movement of the bobbin, and conversely this same slight movement of the bobbin releases the compression. This enables the bobbin to be easily placed on the holder, and insures firm operative contact between the bobbin and the holder. As contrasted with the heretofore customary type of bobbin holder, the holder of the invention exerts a superior grip on the bobbin, there is far less drag on the bobbin when placing it on and removing it from the holder, there is less wear on the split rings, and the split rings cannot be knocked out of place.

While it is preferable that all of the radially extending arms be capable of the characteristic longitudinal rocking movement, the advantages of the invention are realized, but to a lesser degree, where only one arm is capable of such rocking movement, the other arms being rigid or even integral with the body member. Either of the split rings 2i and 22 may be omitted and replaced by an equivalent rigid hump or raised portion on the peripheral edges of the arms l2, and both split rings may be similarly replaced by equivalent rigid raised portions where the arms are flexible. The holder of the invention may be used with bobbins not only in the wet spinning of viscose rayon, but with bobbins in any thread or yarn handling operation, such as twisting, winding, unwinding, etc. Also, 'the holder may be used with any type of bobbin or other equivalent support for a thread or yarn package.

Iclaim:

l. A bobbin holder comprising a head adapted to be secured to a rotatable shaft and an elongated body member extending axially therefrom and having a plurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinal slots, a radially extending arm in each of said slots and capable of a slight longitudinal rocking movement therein, resilient means, associated with both the outer and inner extremities of said arms, arranged to rock said arms so that their ends farthest removed from said head are depressed, andmeans adapted to cooperate with a bobbin being placed on the holder for rocking said arms so that their aforesaid ends are protracted into gripping contact with the bobbin.

2. A bobbin holder comprising a head and an elongated body member having a plurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinal peripheral slots, a radially extending arm positioned in each of said slots and capable of a slight longitudinal rocking movement therein, resilient means for holding said arms in said slots, resilient means normally biasing the ends of said arms farthest removed from said head to their retracted positions, and means approximate the head for cooperating with a bobbin' being placed on the holder for rocking the aforesaid ends of said arms to their protracted positions.

3. A bobbin holder comprising a head adapted to be secured to a rotatable shaft and an elongated body member extending axially therefrom and having a. plurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinal peripheral slots, a radially extending arm resiliently held in each of said slots and capable of a slight longitudinal rocking movement therein, resilient and compressible means associated with the outer ends of said arms for normally rocking these ends of the arms to their retracted positions, bobbin gripping means associated with the inner ends of said arms, and adapted to cooperate with a bobbin being placed on the holder for rocking the outer ends of said arms to their protracted positions, and bobbin gripping means associated with the outer ends of said arms for gripping a bobbin when these ends of the arms are protracted.

4. A bobbin holder comprising a head adapted to be secured to a rotatable shaft and an elongated body member extending axially therefrom and having a plurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinal peripheral slots, a radially extending arm resiliently held in each of said slots and capable of a slight longitudinal rocking movement therein, each or said arms having correspondingly positioned radial recesses approximate their outer ends and similar recesses approximate their inner ends, a resilient and compressible band in the correspondingly positioned recesses approximate each end ofthe arms and surrounding the arms, and a split ring surrounding each oi said bands and extending radially slightly beyond the peripheral edges of the arms.

5. A bobbin holder comprising a head adapted to be secured to a rotatable shaft and an elongated body member extending axially therefrom and having a plurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinal peripheral slots, a radially extending arm resiliently held in each of said slots, each or said arms having a semi-circular extension on its inner edge fitting in a corresponding semicircular depression in its slot and being capable of a slight longitudinal rocking movement about the extension, resilient and compressible means associated with the outer ends of said arms for normally rocking these ends of the arms to their retracted positions, bobbin gripping means associated with the inner ends 01' said arms and adapted to cooperate with a bobbin being placed on the holder for rocking the outer ends of said 1 arms to their protracted positions, and bobbin gripping means associated with the outer ends.

6. A bobbin holder comprising a head adapted to be secured toa rotatable shaft and an elongated body member extending axially therefrom and having a plurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinal peripheral slots, a radially extending arm resiliently held in each of said slots, each of said arms having a semi-circular extension on its inner edge fitting in a corresponding semicircular depression in its slot and being capable of a slight longitudinal rocking movement about the extension, each of said arms having correspondingly, positioned radial recesses approximate their outer ends and similar recesses approximate their inner ends, a resilient and compressible band in the correspondingly positioned recesses approximate each end of the arms and surrounding the arms, and a split ring surrounding each of said bands and extending radially slightly beyond the peripheral edges of the arms.

7. A bobbin holder comprising a head adapted to be secured to a rotatable shaft and an elongated body member extending axially therefrom and having a plurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinal slots, a radially extending arm in each of said slots and capable of a slight longitudinal rocking movement therein, resilient means, associated with both the outer and inner extremities of said arms, arranged to rock said arms so that their ends farthest removed from said head are depressed, means adapted to comember and of larger diameter than the bobbin to be placed thereon, and a resilient cushion on the inner face of said base for contact with the adjacent edge of a bobbin when placed on the holder.

8. A bobbin holder comprising a head adapted to be secured to a rotatable shaft and an elongated body member extending axially therefrom and having a plurality of circumierentially spaced radially extending arms, at least one of said arms being capable of a slight longitudinal rocking movement, and means including a resilient member associated with said arm at its end adjacent to said head adapted to cooperate with a bobbin being placed on the holder for rocking the rockable arm so that its end farthest removed from said head is protracted into gripping contact with the bobbin.

EDGAR R. BLOUNT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

5 UNITED STATES PATENTS 

